Coffee wood, hemp, loofah or coco coir? Choosing natural dog toys to stock
Natural toys get good reviews when buyers know what to expect. A soft fibre toy sold as a long-lasting chew comes back as a bad review; the same toy sold as an occasional toy does fine. This guide compares the four natural materials we export, honestly, so you can choose and describe them well.
- For pet shops and online sellers
- Four materials compared
- About 5 minutes to read
The four materials at a glance
| Material | What it is | Sell it as | Lab test |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee wood | Robusta wood from trees over 20 years old, six sizes XS to XXL | A chew stick; Gorilla blocks when buyers want a heavier piece | SGS heavy-metal test to ASTM F963-23 |
| Hemp | Hard, strong fibre: balls in four sizes and rope toys | Tougher than coco coir | Not yet |
| Loofah | Dried loofah gourd cut into animal and bone shapes, 11.5–15 cm | A light, shaped toy that adds range | Not yet |
| Coco coir | Coconut fibre rope, machine-twisted, hand-knotted, no glue | An occasional toy that helps clean between the teeth | Not yet |
Coffee wood: the chew stick
Our coffee wood comes from mature Robusta trees (20+ years) cleared at the end of their productive life in the Central Highlands. It is measured below 14% moisture at the core before vacuum packing. Six sizes run from XS (10–11 cm, 23–30 g) to XXL (22–23 cm, 325–600 g).
Every piece has its own shape and grain, so length, diameter and weight move within each size range. Say so in your listing, so buyers expect a natural piece.
Gorilla coffee wood is the same wood cut as short, thick blocks: four sizes, S to XL, 8–16 cm long and about 155 g to 1.1 kg per piece.
Hemp: tougher than coco coir
Hemp fibre is hard and strong, the same family of rope once used on ships, and much tougher than coco coir. Hemp balls come in four sizes (4–9 cm diameter, 40–140 g across the range), with or without a rope. Rope toys come as 3-knot and 2-knot ropes and a tug. Hemp balls are a growing trend in Europe.
Loofah: light shapes that add range
Loofah toys are cut from dried loofah gourd into shapes such as teddy bear, fish, cat, bone and duck, 11.5–15 cm long. The gourds are left to mature 6 to 9 months, sometimes longer, before they are processed. Because loofah is light, it adds range to a coffee wood or hemp order without much extra weight.
Coco coir: describe it honestly
Coco coir is soft and frays quickly under a strong jaw. Sell it as an occasional toy that helps clean between the teeth as the fibres brush through, not as a long-lasting chew. If you need a tougher fibre toy, choose hemp. Getting this right up front protects your reviews.
Coir chews come in three lengths (20, 23 and 30 cm) and coir balls in three diameters (4–6, 6–8 and 8–10 cm).
Testing: what we can and cannot show
Our SGS heavy-metal report to ASTM F963-23 covers coffee wood only. We do not yet hold a lab test for hemp, loofah or coco coir. If your market or retailer needs a test for these, tell us before ordering so we can discuss it. See documents and testing.
Try several materials in one order
The minimum is 50 pcs per product on all four materials, so one mixed order can test them side by side. Start with samples: your first 3 are free, you pay the shipping.